“It was two men that evolved. And that’s pretty cool to see a moment in your life individually as a man where your life changed and grew,” Fizdale said. “And you got better because of something. And somebody made you better. And I credit him. He made me a better coach, he made me a better person. And I was lucky to be his coach.”

Fizdale was fired about a year ago by the Grizzlies, just 19 games into his second season. There were a few reasons, but none more pressing than his toxic relationship with Gasol. Their phone conversation was around the same time that Gasol, while working for a humanitarian organization, helped rescue a drowning migrant off the Libyan coast.

“He pulled a migrant out of the ocean this summer. That’s way more important than a basketball beef,” Fizdale said. “He and I both know it and we were like, man, we’re going to be seeing each other too much, our wives love each other.”

Gasol wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about the conversation. But he was happy for the hug.

“It was good. It was a competitive game,” said Gasol, who finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. “We asked about our families. All good.”

Although neither Gasol nor Fizdale detailed the fallout, part of it was about the coach disrespecting the center’s international achievements, sources told the Daily News. There was also a blowout in the locker room in Fizdale’s first season, a source said.